Update your Thanksgiving tablescape on a budget

Heather Barnett is a freelance writer and foodie whose work has been featured in blogs, websites, magazines, and TV and radio ads. She spends her free time relaxing with her soulmate, Keith; her dog, Mosby "The Fly Slayer;" and Felix th...

Beautify your table on the cheap

Tired of using the same ragged cornucopia you put on the Thanksgiving table when your son was 5? If it's time to update your holiday tablescape, don't blow your budget on a centerpiece you'll only use once a year. Try these modern ideas to give your Thanksgiving dinner those final touches without breaking the bank.

You want your Thanksgiving tablescape to look festive and fun, but man are those Thanksgiving pieces expensive. Instead of buying a high-end centerpiece, try these beautiful (and cheap) ways to decorate.

Fancy tablecloth and linens

You may want to splurge a bit on the tablecloth and linens so they last, but don’t buy a Thanksgiving-themed set. That means you can only use it at Thanksgiving.

Instead, go for plain designs in fall colors that you can reuse all year. Browns are great because they can be used for elegant place settings any time of year. You can even choose slightly more decorative linen napkins that have simple plaids, stripes or embellishments.

Place settings

There's no need to buy expensive china to have a lovely table. Department and discount stores often sell inexpensive plate ware, silverware and glasses in sets of four or six. Buy two different plate sets in solid colors that complement one another and mix and match them on the table to add a little color.

Decorations

There are some fun and simple ways you can add some extra pizzazz to your table without buying a $100 centerpiece. Check out these Thanksgiving decorating ideas.

Buy candles of various sizes in a single or two complementary fall colors. They can be set on the table alone or placed in a variety of inexpensive clear hurricane glasses (which you can usually find on eBay or Amazon).

Let nature be your decorator. Go outside and grab some leaves of various colors, acorns and even nice-looking sticks and arrange them down the center of the table. If you decide to use candles and items from nature, make sure you use the hurricane glasses for safety.

On your next grocery-store run, pick up some seasonal fruits, veggies and gourds to arrange on the table. Small pumpkins and squashes, pears or fall apples and the like are colorful and rustic decorations. Try using items that reflect the ingredients in the Thanksgiving dishes you're serving.